Castrol Technology Centre
{{Short description|Chemical Research Centre in South Oxfordshire, United Kingdom}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Castrol Technology Centre
| native_name = BP Pangbourne, Pangbourne Technology Centre
| former_names = Bozedown House
| alternate_names = Castrol Global Technology Centre, BP Technology Centre, Castrol Research Laboratories[https://books.google.com/books?id=S0_Oaa5d0E0C&pg=PA6 New Scientist June 1989]
| image = Castrol textlogo.svg
| image_size = 200
| caption =
| map_type = United Kingdom Oxfordshire
| altitude = {{convert|130|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| building_type = Chemical Research Centre
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| location =
| address = Whitchurch Hill, Oxfordshire, RG8 7QR
| client = Castrol
| owner = BP/Castrol Ltd
| current_tenants = 500 staff
| landlord = BP UK
| coordinates = {{coord|51.5|-1.081|display=inline}}
| start_date =
| completion_date = 1907
| inauguration_date =
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| other_dimensions = 36 acres (14.6 ha)
| floor_count = 3
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The Castrol Technology Centre is a research institute owned by BP in South Oxfordshire, north of Whitchurch-on-Thames.
History
=Castrol=
Castrol was founded by C.C.Wakefield in 1899, making lubricants (Wakefield lubricator) for railways.
The research site is based at Bozedown House, a former private residence originally built by William Fanning c.1870 and then rebuilt by Charles Palmer in 1907 {{cite web|title=VCH Oxfordshire • Texts in Progress • Whitchurch (June 2019)|url=https://www.history.ac.uk/sites/default/files/file-uploads/2019-06/whitchurch_intro_web_june_2019.pdf#page=22}} after the original house was destroyed by fire. It became a chemical research site in the 1950s and was purchased by Castrol in 1976.
In 1993 it won the Queen's Award for Technological Achievement for its Castrol Marine Cyltech 80.{{cite web|title=SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 21ST APRIL 1993|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/53282/supplement/3/data.pdf|website=London Gazette|accessdate=23 October 2017}} Castrol employs around 7,000 staff worldwide. Castrol was bought by BP in 2000.[http://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/about-bp/our-brands/castrol.html BP]
Structure
The site is around three-quarters of a mile north of the River Thames, east of the B471, accessed from the A4074 at Woodcote. The site has around 500 staff.{{cn|date=November 2023}}
Function
Castrol has twelve research sites around the world. The site at Pangbourne is the largest of the twelve sites. Research is done on rheology and the viscosity of engine oil.
See also
- Former Esso Research Centre in Oxfordshire
- Former Shell Technology Centre in Cheshire
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.bp.com/en_gb/united-kingdom/home/where-we-operate/pangbourne.html Where we operate] on BP website
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150313031130/http://www.castrol.com/en_gb/united-kingdom/products/motorcycle-and-scooter/engine-oil/power1-brand/research-and-development.html CASTROL R&D: research] (archived, 13 Mar 2015)
{{BP}}
{{South Oxfordshire}}
{{Automotive industry in the United Kingdom}}
{{authority control}}
Category:BP buildings and structures
Category:Chemical industry in the United Kingdom
Category:Chemical research institutes
Category:Research institutes established in 1907
Category:Research institutes in Oxfordshire